‘Habagat’ expected to usher in rainy season in June

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The wet season will likely start in the first or second week of June, according to the state weather bureau.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tuesday that the onset of the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” was expected in one or two weeks, signaling the start of the rainy months.

“But the initial surge of the southwest monsoon will initially be felt on the western seaboards of the Luzon and Visayas,” forecaster Chris Perez said.

Other parts of the country will feel the effects of the southwest monsoon when a tropical cyclone forms, he added.

The southwest monsoon typically affects the country from July to September, is very warm and humid, and occurs when warm moist air flows over the country from the southwest.

It is characterized by heavy rainfall that may last for a week. It brings the rainy season to the western portion of the country, according to Pagasa.

Perez said the country would continue to have similar weather in the next few days “when it’s sunny in the morning, cloudy at midday and rainy in the afternoon or evening.”

According to Pagasa’s 24-hour weather outlook, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a breeding ground of tropical cyclones, is affecting Southern Mindanao, bringing cloudiness and some rains over the region.

On the other hand, the ridge of a high-pressure area, which usually brings fair weather, extends across Luzon, it said.

The Zamboanga peninsula and Soccskargen, or Region 12 composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and the city of General Santos, will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

“Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening,” Pagasa said.

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